World Cup downhill racing saw its seventh stop for 2026 at the iconic French venue, Les Gets. Frenchman Max Alran took the men’s elite victory on home turf, and Hattie Harnden stood on the top podium for the elite women.
This would be a first for Harnden and for elite DH racing in general. Not only would this be the first elite World Cup DH win for the British racer, but it would also be the first time any elite DH racer crossed the finish line with the fastest time and riding a belt-driven bike.
Cut the check — Harnden just won €100,000 courtesy of Gates.
The Belted Purse
In 2024, Gates put their money where their mouth is, so to speak. Essentially, they put €100,000 of prize money — the Belted Purse — on the line for the first elite-level rider to win a World Cup DH race on a bike equipped with a Gates belt drive.
Following the prize announcement, a few race teams ditched traditional drivetrains in favor of a gearbox-and-belt option. Aon Racing, MS Racing, Intense Factory Racing, and Atherton Racing all went the way of the belt. When no one claimed the price in 2024, Gates extended the prize to the 2025 season.
But, again, the race season went without a belt-drive winner, causing Gates to push the prize money to the 2026 race season. And now, the €100K is claimed, as Hattie Harnden of Aon Racing crossed the line first in Les Gets.
In a press release, Harnden shared her thoughts on the recent victory:
“Downhill racing can be brutal on riders and equipment, so to be the first rider to win on a belt-drivenbike is honestly pretty exciting. “The Gates Belt Drive delivered smooth consistency without dropped chains or skipped gears, letting me focus completely on the run. In a sport where every second matters, that can make all the difference. This win reflects the hard work and belief of the entire team, and it’s a moment we’re all proud of at AON. Hopefully, it’s just the start of what we can do with this bike.”
A very interesting DH bike
Harnden won Les Gets aboard her Gamux DH bike, which has received a bit of attention in recent years, and not just for the Pinion gearbox and Gates belt.
Aon made quite a stir this year by adopting a raised, reversed stem. While last year’s bike featured a stem placing the bars directly above the fork crown, the new stem is noticeably higher. While there was some early talk about whether Aon racers could keep enough weight over the front wheel, race results seemed to squash the murmurings.
Aon rider Reece Wilson put down a second-place run at Andorra just a few weeks ago. And now, Harnden crosses the line first not only on a bike with a belt drive, but also with the very unique stem.
Interestingly, this actually isn’t the first time Harnden has stood on the very top of a World Cup podium with a belt-drive bike. Last year, she took first at the EDR stop in Pietra Ligure, Italy, on a belt-driven Nicolai. However, the Gates prize money didn’t extend to enduro.
Are we seeing a future trend developing?
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